Kerala CM VD Satheesan interacts with women during the flagging-off ceremony of KSRTC buses | Photo Credit: -

In a major step towards women’s empowerment, the Kerala government on Monday launched its flagship ‘Priyadarshini’ free travel scheme for all women and transgender persons on ordinary buses operated by the state-run Kerala State Road Transport Corporation.

Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan inaugurated the scheme at the Thampanoor Central Bus Station. The inaugural journey, operated entirely by a women crew, carried the Chief Minister and other dignitaries from the bus station to the Secretariat.

The scheme will cover around 3,125 ordinary KSRTC buses, though not all are currently in service because of operational constraints. It is expected to benefit women across diverse social and economic backgrounds throughout the State.

Describing the launch as a proud moment for Kerala, the Chief Minister said the initiative was not an act of generosity but a carefully designed welfare measure with significant socio-economic benefits. “Women can now travel with pride, saying these are their government’s vehicles,” he said

The Chief Minister said that the implementation of the scheme would not impose any additional financial burden on KSRTC.

Under the scheme, women and transgender persons can travel free of charge on seven categories of KSRTC ordinary services: ordinary, city ordinary, limited-stop ordinary, fair-stage ordinary, town-to-town, point-to-point, and Gramavandi services.

The Chief Minister also assured private bus operators government will take steps to address any losses arising due to the implementation of the new scheme.

According to preliminary estimates, the daily cost of implementing the scheme on ordinary services alone is expected to be around ₹2 crore. The exact financial liability, however, will be assessed after analyzing ticketing data generated following the rollout.

However, the State government was of the view that the scheme could reduce women’s travel expenditure by 15 to 25 per cent, enabling greater disposable income that could boost economic activity.

Meanwhile, in a unique way of protest against the KSRTC’s free travel scheme for women, a private bus owner operating in Nedumbassery near Kochi has provided free travel to men in his bus on Monday, while women passengers who travelled in his buse received a “sweet gesture”.   

The operator B.O.Davies, who runs Little Flower bus services in Aluva-Manjali route for the last 25 years, has offered freebies for passengers from 6.30 in the morning till 8 in the night. He claimed that KSRTC’s free travel scheme will affect his business as majority of the passengers in his bus are women.

Published on June 15, 2026